Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-10-27
WArER ON rae EARM.
Methods OF Obteinin< a Coplous
and Never-FaiIine Supply.
opious supply of pure water is

Various Methods OF ObtNlnin< q CcplOus
and Nsver-FaiIine Supply.
A copious supply of pure water lie
indispensable on every farm. This is
one point to which particular attention
should be given in selecting Il farm.
A clear. cool running stream through
the pasture and near the barn, is the
most convenient source for the supply
of the cows, but unless the farm con-
trolls the springs from which the stream
issues, it is apt to be the worst of all.
If the water is contaminated in any
way, the quality of the milk will in
variably suffer; and many cases occur
in which dairyman, suffering from
supposed mysterious trouble with the
milk, and the butter or cheese made
from it, has at last found the cause to
be impurity in the water drank by the
cows. Moreover, large quantity of
water is required in dairy for cleans
ing the pans. and if this water is not
pure, the very source of the supposed
cleansing brings impurity into the
dairy. The writer's supply of water
was procured from springs which were
opened in the bottom of a slope be-
tween the house and barn. by
digging three or four feet down
to a bed of fine clean sand
and gravel; when the water imme-
diately flowed out over the brim and
down to a small spring stream in the
bottom, which was fed by large num-
Der of bubbling springs in its bed.
Such a source us this, conveniently
close to the barn, and not so low that
it can not be brought up in pipes by
means of a pump. is the very best; us
the water is pure and cool in summer
and warm in winter, and III unlimited
supply at all seasons in the year. The
manner in which this supply of water
was made available is as follows: A
reservoir or tank was cut out near the
foot of the slope sufficiently deep to
hold an abundant stock, and to secure
an even temperature, which averaged
from forty-eight to fifty degrees in
midsummer, and forty-fve to forty
eight degrees in midwinter. The pool
was lined with a wall of stone laid
closely and covered with a small build |
ing for protection. Other springs were |
opened and walled in the same way, |
and arched over with stone. after pro-
viding a safe outlet with drain tiles, |
and an air-trap to prevent access of any
small insects or animals. Pipes of |
galvanized iron were laid from these /
springs in trenches three feet deep,
so as to be safe from frost. |
and to preserve GOODNESS in the |
hot weather, and connected with |
pumps. in the house, stable, barn and /
barnyard. Where the height of the |
was too great to permit the |
use of common suction pump, dry |
well was dug to a sufficient depth, viz,
eight feet, and the pipe was carried to
the bottom of it and connected with
force pump. by which the water could
be carried by means of a hose to any
part of the yard or stables. A nozzle
attached to this hose made it easy to
throw stream of water over any OF
the buildings, Il most useful thing in
case of fire, or for washing the stable
floor and other desirable purposes.
Where springs of this kind are moi
common wells are next in
value. But as wells are quickly con-
taminated by drainage from the sur
face, when in or near barnyards OF
stables, it is advisable to have the well
for use in dairy at some safe distance
from the stable and yard. 1t is only
question of time when the percolation
Of water fouled by the manure in .
barnyard, constantly teaching by the
rain, will reach the well; and though
the water is filtered to some extent by
its passage through the soil, yet in
time filter becomes fully charged
with the sediment and can not act any
longer. Agriculturtst.